Typographical composing machine



July 18, 1939. R. R. MEAD TYPOGRAPHICAL cowosius MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 4, 1938 WNW July 18, 1939 R. R. MEAD 2,166,726

TYPOGRAPHICAL GOMPOSING MACHINE Filed Feb. 4, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 July 18, 1939 R. R. MEAD TYPOGRAPHICAL COMPOSING MACHINE 'Filed Feb. 4, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 6f INVENTOR BY ATTORzVEYi Patented July 18, 1939 UNITED STATES FATENT OFFICE Richard R. Mead, Queens Village, N. Y., assignor to Mergenthaler Linotype Company, a corporation of New York Application February 4,

15 Claims.

This invention relates to typographical composing machines, such as Linotype machines of the general organization represented in Letters Patent of the United States No. 436,532 to O. Mer- 5 genthaler, wherein circulating matrices are released from a magazine in the order in which their characters are to appear in print and then assembled in line, together with circulating spacebands, the composed line transferred to the face of a slotted mold for the casting of a type bar or slug, and the matrices and spacebands thereafter separated and returned by distributing mechanism to the magazines from which they started.

In these machines, the matrices, as they are released from the magazine, pass down through a partitioned assembler entrance onto a constantly driven endless belt which discharges them, one after another, in the order of their release, through a chute to an assembler, wherein they are composed in line against a line resistant under the influence of a rapidly rotating star wheel, the matrices being held against retrogression in the assembler by a pair of spring-pressed pawls arranged to engage the matrix last assembled in line. The assembler entrance and the chute are ordinarily provided with cover plates which'can be swung to open position to give access to the interior parts orto clogged matrices.

According to the present improvements, the lower or chute cover plate presents a groove extending longitudinally along its upper edge, whereas the upper or entrance cover plate presents a tongue extending longitudinally along its lower edge, the tongue being arranged to project into the groove so as effectively to tie both plates together. The arrangement is such that the inner surfaces of the upper and the lower cover plates are flush where the edges of these plates abut, so that no obstacle is presented to the passage of the matrices at this point.

Also according to the present improvements, the lower cover plate is formed on its left edge with a bevelled portion projecting into the assembler in overlapping relation and in engagement with a complementally bevelled surface formed on the front side wall of the assembler, so that a smooth unbroken guiding surface is presented to the matrices as they enter the assembler during the composition of a line.

An adjustable banking device facilitates the proper location of the lower cover plate in locking relation with the upper cover plate and in operative relation with the assembler.

Other advantages of the present improvements 1938, Serial No. 188,603

will be apparent as the description of the invention proceeds.

Referring to the drawings:-

Fig. 1 isa front elevation of a portion of a linotype machine equipped with the present improvements;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a portion of the assembler and assembler chute, with the lower or chute cover plate shown in open position;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional View on line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view, looking at the entrance end of the assembler;

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional View on line5--5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectional view on line 6-6 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 'I is a vertical sectional view on line l'! of Fig. l; and

Fig. 8 is a substantially vertical sectional view on line 8-8 of Fig. 1. v

The matrices X, as they are released from their storage magazine (not shown), pass downwardly through a partitioned assembler entrance A and onto a constantly driven inclined belt B traveling around a pulley 13 located at the lower end of the entrance. From the belt, the matrices are discharged, one after another in the order of their release, into a throat or chute C leading to the assembler D. Here they are composed in line against an upstanding finger D of a line resistant slide under the influence of a rapidly rotating start wheel E which crowds them forwardly against the end of the line and at the same time advances the latter to admit the next or following matrix into the assembler. In passing through the chute, the matrices are caused to follow the fixed lower curved side wall C thereof by the yielding upper wall or chute spring C The spacebands Y are released as desired from a magazine F, arranged at the left of the entrance A, and dropped down vertically into the assembler in well known manner. The assembler is slidably mounted for vertical movement in fixed guides G (only one of which is shown) secured to the front plate G and arranged to engage in grooves D formed at the rear side of the assembler and at the opposite ends thereof. After composition of the line, the assembler is raised to carry the line up between depending fingers H of a line delivery slide H which thereupon shifts the line horizontally from the assembler through the intermediate channel H to the casting mechanism (not shown).

The assembler, as will be noted (Figs. 3 and 4) presents a straight parallel-sided channel wherein the matrices are composed in line and which is constituted generally by the front and rear side walls D and D respectively, and the longitudinally extending rails D upon which the matrices X are supported by their lower projecting ears. The spacebands Y, in turn, are supported in the assembler by opposed ears located at their upper ends and which rest upon the upper edges of the assembler side walls. The parallel side walls D D of the assembler channel overlap the star wheel E, and hence guide the matrices by their opposite edges and support them in upright position after they enter the line. The tendency of the matrix last assembled to fall back toward the star wheel, where it would likely interfere with the next succeeding matrix, is overcome by the use of pawls D resiliently mounted in the opposite side walls of the channel at the receiving end thereof. These pawls cooperate with the individual matrices in the customary way and are intended to snap in behind the upper projecting ears thereof as the matrices are pushed ahead by the star wheel. The assembler is also provided at its entrance end with a pair of small plates D fastened one to each wall thereof and which present shoulders acting to prevent the matrix last assembled in line from falling out of the assembler as the latter is raised to transfer the line.

The assembler entrance A is closed at the front by an upper cover plate J, which is normally hinged at the top on a pivot located in the plane of the plate, so that it may be swung forwardly and upwardly to give access to the interior parts. The chute C is closed at the front by a lower cover plate J pivotally mounted at its lower left corner on an axis perpendicular thereto and arranged, when opened, to be swung downwardly in its own plane in a clockwise direction.

In accordance with the present invention, the lower cover plate J has riveted thereto along its upper edge and at its outer face, a bar J (see Figs. 1, 2 and 7) formed in its top edge with a recess which, together with the plate itself, presents a groove J Along the lower edge of the upper cover plate J, and likewise at the outer face thereof, there is riveted a bar J extending below said lower edge and which is adapted, when both plates are in their normal or closed positions, to engage in the groove J just alluded to. Consequently, when the cover plates are in their normal positions, the inner surfaces thereof will be flush or co-planar, and nothing will be presented to interfere with the passage of the matrices in their travel along the inclined belt and through the chute. Furthermore, the construction insures that the proper closing of the lower cover plate positively locks the upper cover plate in its closed position. To open the upper cover plate, it is necessary, of course, first to open the lower cover plate, so that the tongue presented at the lower end of the former is disengaged from the groove presented at the upper edge of the latter.

Since there is a slight clearance between the cover plates, the normal or closed position of the lower one J (see Figs. 1 and 8) is determined by a banking screw J threaded through a lug J projecting rearwardly from the lower cover plate near its lower right hand corner, and which bears against a banking stop J extending forwardly from a fixed part of the machine. The banking screw permits a limited degree of adjustment for the cover plate for reasons hereinafter mentioned, its adjusted position being maintained by a lock nut J threaded on the banking screw and up tight against the lug J.

The lower cover plate is held in closed position by means including a finger K (see Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 5) pivotally mounted on a shoulder formed on a headed screw K which is threaded into a depending portion of the assembled block in which the star wheel E is mounted. The finger curves upwardly toward the left and terminates in a flat edge portion K adapted, when the cover plate is in its closed position, to engage the shank of a headed stud J projecting forwardly therefrom. The parts are normally maintained in this position of adjustment by a tension spring K connected at the top of an arm K extending upwardly from the lower end of the finger K (Figs. 1 and 3) and having an anchorage in the assembler block. In order to open the cover plate, it is necessary only for the operator to turn the latter downwardly in a clockwise direction (a handle J or knob being provided for this purpose) and, as this is done, the finger K will yield, permitting the stud J to ride off the fiat surface of the finger and down along the left curved edge thereof, the configuration of the curved edge requiring a minimum of distention in the spring. To close the cover plates, it is necessary to make sure that the upper one is first properly located, whereupon the lower one is turned upwardly until arrested by the banking of the screw J against the lug J and, during this operation, the tongue associated with the upper plate will engage in the groove J associated with the lower plate. The stud J will ride up along the finger K until the flat portion K thereof springs in behind it.

It will be observed that the cover plate J is cut away in its loWer edge, as at J to clear the stud K upon which the finger is pivoted, but this will not detract from the appearance of the parts, since, when the cover plate is closed, the cut-out portion will be hidden behind the finger (see Figs. 1 and 2).

As will be observed (Fig. 1), the lower cover plate J has a portion extending beyond the left edge of the upper cover plate J and terminating at the vertical right or entrance end of the assembler. In this region, the projecting portion is formed with a bevelled projection J (Figs. 2 and 6) extending beyond the entrance end of the assembler and into a complementally bevelled recess D formed in the front inner wall of the assembler in the entrance end thereof (Fig. 4). Where these parts overlap, the inner surface of the cover plate is flush with the surface of the assembler front inner wall. Since this is the region wherein the matrices pass from the chute into the assembler, it will be apparent that there is provided a smooth unbroken guiding surface for the matrices as they approach and enter the composed line. Of course, it will be understood that there is nothing below the lower end of the bevelled recessed portion D in the assembler to interfere with the raising and lowering of the latter to and from the line transfer position. One of the chief reasons for the adjustable banking screw J will now be apparent, since, in order to secure the proper cooperative relation between the cover plate and the assembler, a more or less critical positioning of the former when closed is required.

Thus, from what has been said, it can be seen that the present improvements, by virtue of the construction for interlocking the upper and the lower cover plates and the manner in which the lower cover plate extends in overlapping relation into the assembler, a smooth continuous unbroken surface is presented for guiding the matrices in their travel from the raceway through the chute and into the composed line.

In the accompanying drawings, the invention has been shown merely by way of example and in preferred form, and obviously many variations and modifications may be made therein which will still be comprised within its spirit. It is to be understood, therefore, that the invention is not limited to any specific form or embodiment, except insofar as such limitations are specified in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

I. In or for a typographical composing machine, matrix assembling mechanism including, in combination, an assembler, a partitioned entrance and a chute through which the matrices pass to the assembler for composition in line, upper and lower cover plates constituting a wall for the entrance and chute, and means for looking the cover plates together, said locking means being located entirely Without the plane of the inner faces of the cover plates so as not to interfere with the passage of the matrices through the entrance and chute.

2. In or for a typographical composing machine, matrix assembling mechanism including, in combination, an assembler, a partitioned entrance and a chute through which the matrices pass to the assembler for composition in line, upper and lower cover plates constituting a continuous wall for the entrance and chute, and means for locking the cover plates together at their contiguous edges, said locking means being located entirely without the plane of the inner faces of the cover plates so as not to interfere with the passage of the matrices through the entrance and chute.

3. In or for a typographical composing machine, matrix assembling mechanism including, in combination, an assembler, a partitioned entrance and a chute through which the matrices pass to the assembler for composition in line, upper and lower cover plates constituting a wall for the entrance and chute, and means for looking the cover plates together, said locking means being located entirely without the plane of the inner faces of the cover plates so as not to interfere with the passage of matrices through the entrance and chute and comprising a recessed portion associated with one cover plate and arranged to be engaged by a projecting portion associated with the other cover plate.

4. In or for a typographical composing machine, matrix assembling mechanism including, in combination, an assembler, a partitioned entrance and a chute through which the matrices pass to the assembler for composition in line, upper and lower cover plates constituting a continuous wall for the entrance and chute, one of said cover plates being movable from the plane of its closed position to an open position outside of said plane and the other pivotally movable in its own plane to open and closed position, and means for locking the two cover plates together, said mean including a tongue portion associated with one cover plate and a groove portion associated with the other cover plate, the tongue and groove portions being adapted to inter-engage as the cover plate, movable in its own plane, is closed subsequent to the closing of the other cover plate.

5. A combination according to claim 4, wherein the cover plate first closed is the upper cover plate.

6. A combination according to claim 4, wherein the tongue portion is associated with the upper cover plate and the groove portion with the lower cover plate.

7 A combination according to claim 4, wherein the tongue portion is associated with the upper cover plate and the groove portion with the lower cover plate and wherein both the tongue and the groove portions are located entirely without the plane of the inner faces of the cover plates so as not to interfere with the passage of matrices through the entrance and chute.

8. In or for a typographical composing machine, matrix assembling mechanism including, in combination, an assembler having front and rear side walls, a partitioned entrance and a chute through which the matrices pass to the assembler for composition in line, and a cover plate for the chute having a portion extending into the assembler, the inner face of said portion being flush with the front inner side Wall of the assembler.

9. In or for a typographical composing machine, matrix assembling mechanism including, in combination, an assembler having front and rear side walls, a partitioned entrance and a chute through which the matrices pass to the assembler for composition in line, and a cover plate for the chute, the front inner side wall of the assembler being provided with a recess, and the cover plate with a portion projecting therein, the inner face of the projecting portion being flush with the said assembler front side wall.

10. In or for a typographical composing ma chine, matrix assembling mechanism including, in combination, an assembler having front and rear side walls, a partitioned entrance and a chute through which the matrices pass to the assembler for composition in line, and a cover plate for the chute, the front inner side wall of the assembler being provided with a bevelled portion, and the cover plate with a complementally bevelled portion projecting into the assembler in overlapping relation to the bevelled portion of the latter, and the inner face of said projecting portion being flush with the front inner side wall of the assembler.

11. In or for a typographical composing machine, matrix assembling mechanism including, in combination, an assembler, a partitioned entrance and a chute through which the matrices pass to the assembler for composition in line, an upper cover plate for the entrance movable from the plane of its closed position to an open position outside of said plane, a lower cover plate for the chute pivotally movable in its own plane to open and closed position, means for locking the cover plates together when in their closed positions, and resilient means for maintaining the cover plates in locked relation.

12. In or for a typographical composing ma chine, matrix assembling mechanism including, in combination, an assembler having front and rear side walls, a partitioned entrance and a chute through which the matrices pass to the assembler for composition in line, a cover plate for the chute having a portion adapted when the cover plate is closed to project into the assembler and with its inner face flush with the front inner side wall of the assembler, and resilient means for maintaining such cooperative relation between the cover plate and the assembler.

13. In or for a typographical composing machine, matrix assembling mechanism including, in combination, an assembler having front and rear side walls, a partitioned entrance and a chute through which the matrices pass to the assembler for composition in line, a cover plate for the chute having a portion adapted, when the cover plate is closed, to project into the assembler and with its inner face flush with the front inner side Wall of the assembler, and adjustable banking means for determining the proper cooperative relation between the cover plate and the assembler.

14. In or for a typographical composing machine, matrix assembling mecl'ianism including, in combination, an assembler having front and rear side walls, a partitioned entrance and a chute through which the matrices pass to the assembler for composition in line, a cover plate for the chute having a portion adapted, when the cover plate is closed, to project into the seinbler and with its inner face flush with the front inner side wall of the assembler, acljustable banking means for determining the proper cooperative relation between the cover plate and the assembler, and resilient means for maintaining such cooperative relation as determined by said banking means.

15. In or for a typographical composing machine, matrix assembling mechanism including, in combination, an assembler having front and rear side walls, a partitioned entrance and a chute through which the matrices pass to the assembler for composition in line, an upper cover plate for the entrance pivotally movable from the plane of its closed position to an open position outside of said plane, a lower cover plate for the chute plvotally movable in its own plane to open and closed position and having a portion projecting into the assembler, which projecting portion has its inner surface flush with the front inner side Wall of the assembler, devices for interlocking the cover plates when in closed position, and resilient means for maintaining the locked relation of the cover plates and the cooperative relation between the lower cover plate and the assembler.

RICHARD R. MEAD. 

